Former U.S. Sen. and one-time presidential contender Fred Thompson was in many ways a reluctant politician. But he was also a lobbyist with an envious arsenal of political skills honed both by his calling as an attorney and by his service as a lawyer during unprecedented political crises.

The first silicon metal manufacturing facility built in the U.S. in more than 40 years is now up and running in the North Mississippi town of Burnsville, a little more than 100 miles southeast of Memphis.

Crosstown Arts and The Booksellers at Laurelwood will celebrate the national release of “Memphis Noir” Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 6 p.m. at Crosstown Arts’ Story Booth, 438 N. Cleveland St. The anthology’s editors and several contributors will be in attendance. Visit thebooksellersatlaurelwood.com.

Jimmy Carter is set to participate in a Habitat for Humanity build in Memphis Monday, an appearance at which the former president will be joined by his wife, Rosalynn, and Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan Reckford.

The surprise is gone. Last season, University of Memphis shooting guard Avery Woodson was an unknown to opponents, or at least was a player that teams would make prove he was a legitimate 3-point threat.

It was Saturday, July 29, 1995, a typical summer day for the Russell family. Bobby Russell Jr., 41, a Memphis firefighter, was working in the yard with his two sons when he was struck and killed on his front lawn by an impaired driver. Nothing was ever typical again for the Russell family.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A group of protesters has gathered at the Tennessee Capitol to speak out against Republican Gov. Bill Haslam's administration mulling over privatization of operations in state government.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A voting member of the Federal Reserve cautioned Friday that the Fed has yet to decide when to raise interest rates even though it issued a statement this week that said a rate hike was possible in December.